Christmas is the season of giving and good cheer. There are people and places when the spirit is maintained all year. A classic example of this is in the lovely Mississippi town of Laurel, population slightly over 18,000. Citizens are providing for people of all races without government subsidies.

Richard and Gina Hedrick are entrepreneurs who enjoy biking. They founded “Hellfighters” (http://missionatthecross.com/). Their many members provide ministries at biking events all across America. Additionally they have established “Mission at the Cross” as the first of their six housing projects scattered around the country. The 100-room three-story unit is adjacent to their bike shop where motorcycles are reconditioned. They accept needy people of any age, help them get on their feet, and get a new lease on life. Within 10 years they hope to have 100 such units across America. It is a Christ-centered ministry.

“Miss Polly,” a single lady, operates “Love in Action,” a housing and rehabilitation center on her own. Twenty-four adult men, mostly drug users, are housed at a time. The men garden and do various jobs. Hunters keep them in meat. She has no locks on any doors and controls the place with tough love.

I spoke at a men’s wild-game banquet in Laurel and a giant of a man from the home made a commitment of his life to Christ. The local sheriff was present and said if that holds the biggest drug dealer in the county has just been taken off the street. I checked two years later and he is still clean. Hers is a Christ-centered ministry.

The “Christian Food Mission” is a collaborative effort by churches that provided in house meals for 50 people five days a week and over 300 delivered to homes. It is a Christ centered ministry.

“The Good Shepherd’s Medical Mission” provides free medical service one-half day a week and free dental service also one-half day a week. When possible free medicine is given. Doctors and dentists give their time gratis. It is a Christ centered ministry.

The “Center for Pregnancy Choice” is open daily giving council and help to young women during a crisis pregnancy. Support services are offered. It is a Christ centered ministry.

Often youth coming out of a drug rehabilitation center have no place to go. “The Gap” provides homes for them. They are taught the basis of survival such as how to get a job, balance a check book, and personal responsibility. They are enabled to go to the local community college two years with no cost to them. It is a Christ-centered ministry.

How is all this done without government funding? A lot of wealthy Christians and some not so wealthy compassionate people give to support the ministries. People have worked long, hard, and smart in order to be able to fund these services. They have lived frugally, saved wisely, and invested smartly. Here is the philosophy of such people. They have built wealth in order to be a blessing to others.

These are some of the very people on which the government wants to increase taxes. Thus, the government takes money these citizens want to give to things they desire to support and they, the government, give it to things the government wants to support. Often it is something the people don’t believe in.

However, people with such compassionate good cheer and giving spirit will always give all they can to commendable causes. All rich folks aren’t evil. Some never say “Bah, humbug” to a worthy cause.

*We welcome your comments on the stories and issues of the day and seek to provide a forum for the community to voice opinions. All comments are subject to moderator approval before being made visible on the website but are not edited. The use of profanity, obscene and vulgar language, hate speech, and racial slurs is strictly prohibited. Advertisements, promotions, spam, and links to outside websites will also be rejected. Please read our terms of service for full guides